Yes, much much better. The method of construction is similar but the level of refinement and detail on the Santoni is in a totally different league. The Santoni will make the AE look quite crude in a side by side comparison.

The seller must read this thread because earlier the auction quoted a lower price @ Neimans, not Nordstrom.

BTW, I have seen this Santoni model in person, so I am not talking generally.

thanks to everyone, I really appreciate the help. I purchased these and now I'm mulling over if I should look at it like I've saved $400 or spent more on a pair of shoes than ever before. I suppose both...

thanks to everyone, I really appreciate the help. I purchased these and now I'm mulling over if I should look at it like I've saved $400 or spent more on a pair of shoes than ever before. I suppose both...

thanks to everyone, I really appreciate the help. I purchased these and now I'm mulling over if I should look at it like I've saved $400 or spent more on a pair of shoes than ever before. I suppose both...

thanks to everyone, I really appreciate the help. I purchased these and now I'm mulling over if I should look at it like I've saved $400 or spent more on a pair of shoes than ever before. I suppose both...

Same shoe, but one size larger, and in gold museum calf. I like the 1105 last, but there is something about the Brampton that I don't find attractive. I think it is the seam running down only one side of the shoe.

Same shoe, but one size larger, and in gold museum calf. I like the 1105 last, but there is something about the Brampton that I don't find attractive. I think it is the seam running down only one side of the shoe.

I agree completely. To me it looks ugly and seems to be there merely to create a slightly different-looking shoe from their other models. Even if it ran down both sides, a seam at that angle in that location just looks to me unnatural.